Iowa Falls Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126
Friday, July 31, 2009 13:54 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Cessna pilot stated that he announced his position on the approach to the airport starting about 11 miles out and continuing until he was on final approach. While on final, he noticed a Swift airplane holding on the taxiway for runway 31. He said that he heard a radio transmission that stated, “There are two airplanes landing.” He said that he immediately heard and felt a bang. He reported, “My aircraft turned sideways some and came on down to the runway.” The pilot of the other aircraft, a Mooney, stated that he announced his position on the approach to the airport while entering the downwind for runway 31. He said, “The only traffic observed was an airplane holding at taxiway intersection.” He said that he was ready to reduce power to land when his left wing rose violently. He stated that he lost consciousness, woke up thinking of fire, turned off switches, and became unconscious again before waking up in the emergency room. He reported that the purpose of the flight was to get the airplane to the airport for its annual inspection. An examination of the Mooney showed collision witness marks on its upper surfaces indicative of the Cessna impacting from above. An examination of the Cessna showed collision witness marks on its lower surfaces. 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.113 states, in part, "When two or more aircraft are approaching an airport for the purpose of landing, the aircraft at the lower altitude has the right-of-way but it shall not take advantage of this rule to cut in front of another which is on final approach to land or to overtake that aircraft."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Both pilots' failure to execute adequate visual lookout, resulting in the two airplanes colliding over the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1354
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Iowa Falls
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 50126
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422814N
Event Location Longitude 0931611W
Event Location Airport Iowa Falls Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID IFA
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1137
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1355 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 130
Weather Observation Facility ID IFA
Elevation of weather observation facility 1137
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4300
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 239
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26721
NTSB Notification Source FAA-Des Moines FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2010 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N989TP N3206F
NTSB Number CEN09LA491A CEN09LA491B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA MOONEY
Aircraft Model 182J M20C
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 18257006 680001
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800 2575
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2009 12:00AM Mar 24 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 4878 3850
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated Yes Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type C91-A C91
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID L KALWISHKY and MARC W BROER PROSSER PHILLIP R
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City DES MOINES ELDORA
Aircraft Owner State IA IA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 50317-4030 50627-2235
Operator is an individual? Yes Yes
Operator Name DAVID L KALWISHKY and MARC W BROER PROSSER PHILLIP R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City DES MOINES ELDORA
Operator State IA IA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 50317-4030 50627-2235
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code Y48 6C0
Departure City Belmond Eldora
Departure State IA IA
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1340 1350
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code IFA IFA
Destination City Iowa Falls Iowa Falls
Destination State IA IA
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record May 6 2010 3:44PM Sep 2 2009 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record broda male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 31 31
Runway Length 4001 4001
Runway Width 75 75
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --